Badminton in the Foyer Rural
You’ve heard of 5-a-side football? Well our village plays 5-a-side badminton.
There is much more skill involved than playing regular badminton. You have to judge the competitiveness of your fellow team members. Is your neighbour going to clash racquets with you in the scramble for a good shot? How genteel is the opposition? Can you win points by neatly placing the shuttle in the space between three players as they all stand politely aside and say ‘After you’? Rallies last much longer as there is rarely a part of the court that cannot be covered. And best of all, no-one need sit out as 5-a-side badminton can be adapted for any number. Perhaps it will become a recognised sport?
The broom race
The Loto event is held each year in the Foyer Rural. It is very popular which is not surprising when we saw the prizes that were handed out for a full card. Very soon some of the tables (but not ours unfortunately) were groaning with huge cured hams, saucissons (salamis) and bottles of the local wine and cremant.
After the event we stayed on to help clear up which was even more fun in a way than the Loto. After folding away the tables and stacking the chairs the serious part of clearing up began as everyone sat down to polish off the leftover wine and a big plate of cheese and meat appeared. Then began earnest discussions about art and local politics. This is the part of life in France that really impresses us, that people take the time to sit around the table to enjoy good food and conversation.
After the storms at the weekend, today has dawned calm and sunny. It would be handy if the weather stays fine this week as we are hoping to work in the forest. The trees have to be cut down now before the sap starts rising but we have another few weeks to finish stacking and clearing the plot.
Chris finishes his first basket
I would have some fabulous pictures to post if only I could remember to take my camera out and about with me.
On Tuesday some strange people came to play badminton. It was the Chinese New Year so a family arrived suitably adorned. One was in a beautiful Chinese dress and plastered with copious make-up, and that was the father!
Friday’s folk dancing was also a bit surreal as I couldn’t persuade anyone that the Hornpipe is not a Scottish country dance! But hey, who cares!
We made great progress in basket weaving and one day I will show a photo of my basket. A bit lopsided perhaps but almost recognisable.
And I could have shown some great pictures of the change in weather this week. On Tuesday we couldn’t get out because of the snow. Wednesday it rained and the roads turned into a skating rink. But how quickly the snow disappeared! Within hours snow that had lain for a week had gone. And Thursday was like Spring. The little daffodils, undeterred by being buried under the snow, are now blooming in the sunshine.
The vineyard owner has invited us to join the grape picking team for next September’s vendange. The bad news is that we have to help pick 40 tons of grapes in a week. The good news is that each day the pickers are treated to a huge lunch at the best restaurant in the area.
Compagnie BAM
We’ve had snow again this week, enough to keep us at home for a few days. The local farmer was very busy yesterday dragging hapless visitors out of the ditches. But despite the snowy roads there was a huge turnout for this week’s entertainment at the Foyer Rural.
It was “Parce que Bourvil” performed by the Compagnie BAM, a very lively young trio. We had never heard of Bourvil so we were pleased to be introduced to a little bit more French culture. Bourvil was a very popular singer and actor who performed from the early 1940s until his death in 1970. His songs and sketches involve a very clever play on words. Unfortunately we are not yet able to appreciate such subtleties but we applauded the obvious talents of the performers.
Also we applaud the members of the Foyer Ruraux of our group of villages for staging such excellent entertainment.
 "The chateau at Pierreclos")